Pyrrha

Pyrrha ran a nice race from what was probably an unfavourable draw in the seven-furlong three-year-old fillies’ handicap at Newmarket on Wednesday to finish fourth, just about two lengths behind the winner Greenisland. Drawn in stall three, just three off the far rail, probably not the place to be on Newmarket’s July Course on Wednesday, she was one of just four fillies who raced up the far rail, away from the main group who raced up the centre of the track. In fairness, she did get a nice tow into the race from the cheekpieced Lovely Thought, who was probably the leader overall until just outside the three-furlong pole, but after that filly capitulated, Pyrrha was left to make the best of her way home, with nothing to race with up the hill. Even so, she picked up nicely and looked like she might be involved in the finish as they passed the furlong pole, but she couldn’t quite match the near side group.

This was still a fine effort. Pyrrha beat the second filly home on the far side, the well-backed First City, by two lengths, and that pair finished well clear of the third horse home in that admittedly small group. As well as having nothing to race with from three furlongs out, the daughter of Pyrus was probably racing on the slowest part of the course, and there is a good chance that, had she raced in the main group, she would have gone close to winning. This was just the sixth run of her life, just her second of the season after she had disappointed behind Perfect Pride at Goodwood on her debut, and it looked like the step up to seven furlongs (all her previous five runs were over six) suited. She is out of a daughter of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Nicer, and she is a half-sister to a 12-furlong winner, so it is no surprise that she was well able to cope with this step up in distance. She is better than the bare form of this, and she should progress again.

8th July 2009